Pedaling through Loire’s Beauty

Day 1: Arrival

Transfer to your hotel, a chauffeur will pick you up from the railway station and drive you safely to your accommodation.

At the heart of the Loire Valley with all the most famous châteaux close by, the city of Tours delights visitors with its medieval center and cultural heritage, great shopping areas, and ‘guinguette’ riverside cafés. It has a quiet, relaxed atmosphere despite its 40,000 resident students and is a recognized Ville d’Art et d’Histoire (Town of Art and History).

Take a stroll along Rues Colbert, Briçonnet, and du Grand Marché where you’ll find sites bursting with history including Hôtel Goüin and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Other must-see attractions include the magnificent St-Gatien cathedral and the basilica housing Saint Martin’s tomb, superb city parks and gardens such as the Jardin Botanique, and the covered markets and flea market. Place Plumereau is one of Tours’ trademarks. This small square surrounded by magnificent half-timbered houses is the liveliest place in town, attracting tourists and students in equal numbers. Le Musée du Compagnonnage is the only museum of its kind in the world, where you can learn about the customs of the traveling guild tradesmen, whose creation of everything from iron works to saddles to pastry were a major tradition in Touraine.

Day 2: Tours – Villandry

Private guided e-bike tour in Tours. Along with your guide, you will visit Tours, the gateway city of the Loire Valley. You will tour its historic quarters with their half-timbered houses, the bustling Place Plumereau and Saint-Gatien Cathedral, as well as the new Olivier Debré Contemporary Art Centre.

Suggestion: Château de Villandry

The Château de Villandry is one of the most impressive of the castles of the Loire Valley, in part for the castle itself but especially for its very extensive gardens, the highlight of the visit and the main reason that people are attracted here. The interior of the castle also has some beautiful decorations and furnished rooms to see when you visit, including the dining room and kitchens. Although the castle is best known for its French-style formal garden, there are actually several areas of gardens here in quite different styles… the vegetable garden, the ornamental garden, the water garden, the “Jardin du Soleil” and the herb garden.

The castle was built in the early 16th-century and was the last renaissance style castle to be built in the Loire Valley. You can see the castle courtyard without entering the castle. The interior of the Château de Villandry, although less visited than the gardens, still has a great deal of interest. Most of the interior was redesigned in the 18th century and the furnishings are from this period. Highlights include the staircase and the beautiful ceiling in one of the rooms, as well as the views across the gardens from the castle keep.

Restaurant Booking – Le Turon –  Dinner

The restaurant offers truly excellent cuisine – a combination of gastronomic French cuisine and simplicity. You will explore a memorable dining experience. The chefs are passionate about the products that are available locally every day, and they create various tastes with passion and creativity.

Day 3: Amboise – Chenonceau

E-bike rental for a day in the Loire Valley. An electric bike is provided to you at the point of rental in the city center of Tours. The bike model “Inducktora,” produced by the Leader Fox company, is equipped with a rear battery, pump, repair kit, and anti-theft.

You will have a range of 80 to 120 kilometers (50 to 75 miles) and you will have access to support and/or assistance if the bike breaks, or if there is an incident and/or an accident.

Suggestion: Visit Amboise, the Royal City

An old, long stone bridge overlooking the romantic Loire River leads into the idyllic royal city of Amboise.

Elegant Amboise, the childhood home of Charles VIII and final resting place of the incomparable Leonardo da Vinci, is gorgeously situated on the southern bank of the Loire, guarded by a soaring château.

Go for a stroll through Amboise or along the lovely riverbank after seeing the château. The town has well-preserved Renaissance architecture and half-timbered townhouses dating back to the 15th century. Amboise is also the location of Leonardo da Vinci’s last home, the Château du Clos Lucé.

You may want to take a relaxing break on one of the many café terraces and soak up the beauty or dine in a gastronomic restaurant.

The Farmers Markets offer a large choice of produce and local specialties. Amboise is a convivial base for exploring the Loire countryside and nearby châteaux.

Transfer from Tours to Cour-Cheverny – a chauffeur will pick you up at your accommodation to drive you safely to your next hotel in the area of the Chateau de Cheverny. 

Day 4: Chaumont-sur-Loire – Cour-Cheverny

Private Full-Day Guided E-Bike Tour of Cheverny and Château de Chambord. Your licensed driver-guide will pick up you at your hotel.

Owned by the same family for six centuries, Cheverny is the most furnished château in the area. It is a symbol of the heart of French living, surrounded by a pretty English park which you will explore on a bike. You will also have a chance to meet the pack of hunting hounds owned by the Marquis.

The ride will continue at the Château de Chambord, which is the largest and the most impressive château in the area, famous for its outstanding architecture and double-helix staircase. Located in the Sologne area in the largest enclosed game park in Europe, it is a celebration of the personality of King Francis I in the 16th century.

Your licensed driver-guide will drop you off back at the hotel after the tour.

Day 5: Saint Pierre des Corps

Transfer from Cheverny to the Train Station. A chauffeur will pick you up from Cheverny or Blois and drive you safely to Saint Pierre des Corps railway station.